The Sponge City Initiative (SCI) is displayed at Wetex Dubai by Dake Rechsand, a Dubai-based company specialising in sustainable solutions for water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and stormwater management. The most significant sustainability and clean energy technology show in the area, Wetex, will hold its most recent edition from September 27 to 29 at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC).
The exhibition on the ground-breaking idea will be directed by the Dake Rechsand team, which also includes CEO Chandra Dake and Dr Yuming Su, PhD, P.E. D.WRE, who is vigorously involved in several Sponge City initiatives in China. The presentation, with the working title Sponge Cities Circular is an approach to Combine Blue and Greenscapes for Smart Water Management. The presentation will also highlight flood control measures and interconnected complications in the context of the UAE and the large Mena region.
Dr Su is a member of several advisory committees for organisations engaged in Sponge City initiatives serving as vice-director of the State Key Laboratory of Silica Sand Utilization. He has more than 20 years of experience in stormwater management, water resources research, engineering and sand technology. In Mena and other regions, Dake Rechsand has been actively pushing sand technology and related products, like Breathable Sand and IDer.
In IDer, the main building of Sponge City, absorbent materials like bricks, pavers, and kerbstones are exposed to rain, roads, playgrounds and parking lots, etc. The absorbent material absorbs the rain to prevent floods, water logging, and sliding of the surface. Later, the absorbed water can be sent to the proper drains or stored in underground reservoirs. The preserved water can stay fresh for a long time without external treatment due to the breathability of the surface.
Chandra Dake explains that floods are becoming more frequent in UAE. The SCI can develop a circular economy by collecting seamless water and reusing it. Sponge City is built over the social, economic, and environmental pillars of sustainability, which means it uses eco-friendly practices, affordable and accessible to everyone. It’s primary objective is to provide long-lasting value for a one-time investment.